Reducing bone abnormalities.



' F. E. MILLER. REDUCING BONE ABNORMALITIES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24, I918.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

lNVE/YTOR. fian/rEMM/er hi6 ATTORNEY an: n'rlks m. r

FRANK E. MILLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REDUCING BONE ABNOBMALITIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 29, 1918.

Application filed April 24, 1918. Serial No. 230,423.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented Improvements in Reducing Bone Abnormalities, set forth in the following specification.

Based upon my experience and observation for a long period of years, I have found that the bony and cartilaginous partitions in the nasal anatomy are deformed in a degree sufficient to impair both the breathing and the proper vocalization of the subject. The principal deformation of the septum is a warping or lateral deviation or deflection suflicient materially to obstruct the passage of sound and air through the right or the left of the subjects nasal passages.

Attempts have been made to relieve and reduce such deformities by surgical operations in which a section of the septum was removed by cutting called septotomy. In such operations both the bony structure and the mucous membranes on the opposite sides of the septum were severed and removed. Such operations were fraught with the clanger of severe hemorrhage, great pain to the patient, and in many cases the inability to effect a union between the severed edges on opposite sides of the section removed.

The septum has at least a two-fold function in the nasal anatomy,(1) to act as a support for other parts of the nasal anatomy, and (2) to provide a partition dividing the right and the left nasal passages. It is therefore obvious that, when a section is actually permanently removed from the septum, its supporting function is impaired, and further, that communication at an undesired 1ocality is permitted between the right and the left nasal passages.

It is the object of my invention to reduce septal deviations in an improved manner, without resort to a cutting operation. In most instances of septal deformity, the septal wall is too long to form a straight bridge between its opposite edges, which are fixed to a relatively immovable bony structure. This condition may better be understood by reference to what takes place when an ordinary card is pressed between the fingers. The card immediately warps out to one side or the other. It is such a warped condition that frequently characterizes common septal deformity. The manner in which I carry out the general object of my invention will better be understood by reference to the following specification, which is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which illustrative diagrams explain my invention. In the drawings- Figure 1 is a section, partly in diagram, through a human septum showing the method of applying corrective forces;

Fig. 2 is a similar diagrammatic section showing the initial effect after the application of the corrective forces;

Fig. 3 is a similar diagram, after corrective molding has been effected; and

Fig. i is a diagrammatic section through a septum which has been corrected in accordance with my invention.

In practising my invention I preferably employ my bone resector, described in an ap plication for patent filed by me on April 2 l, 1918, Serial Number 230,421. I11 Fig. 1, 1 and 2 indicate the operating blades of such a resector, which herein illustrate the proper manner of applying separated shearing forces indicated by the arrows 3 and t, which forces obviously are applied to the septal structure A by the blunt edges (4 and in a direction transverse to the septal structure A. The forces 3 and 4 should be sufficient to produce a fracture 5, 6 in the bony wall B of the septum A. In producing this fracture the mucous membranes 7 and 8 on opposite sides of the wall 13 are not severed, but are merely separated sufliciently to insure a complete fracture of the bony structure. In obtaining this result, it is important that the blunt edges a have a lateral clearance, as indicated illustrativcly in the figures.

After the fracture 5, 6 has been effected, the bony wall B should be molded either by the fingers or with any suitable blunt instrument until it assumes as nearly as possible a correct contour, with the two fractured edges 5 and 6 lapping one another, by which expedient the original excess length of the septum between the supporting bony structure 9 and the supporting bony structure 10 is reduced or taken up by the lap between the edges 5 and 6. Care should be taken to redistribute the mucous membranes 7 and S at the localities 11 and 12 about the fracture so that a complete bridge on both sides of the fracture is effected by the mucous membrane. This greatly reduces hemorrhage and supplies the necessary blood cells intact for eifecting a satisfactory and speedy knitting of the fractured bony structure. It is many times expedlent to pack one or the other of the nostril cavities so as to providethat the remolded septum assumes almost a normal condition, as indicated in Fig. 4, with little more deformity than a slight e117 largement 13 at the locality of the remedial fracture.

What I claim and What I desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent'is:

1. The method of reducing-a septal deviation comprising applying shearing forces acting in separated planes transverse to the septum and sufficient to shear the bony structureWithout severingrits mucous membranes; and molding the severed edges of said bony structure into lapping relation withinthe unsevered bridging mucous memb 'anesL 2. The method of reducing a septal deviation comprising applying shearing forces acting in separated planes transverse to the septum and sufficient to shear the bony structure without severing its mucous membranes; molding thesevered edges of said bony structure into lapping relation within the -un severed bridging: mucous membranes and retaining the so-vmoldedbony structure in. position by a lateral: packin In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification; this-25th day of March, 1918.

FRANK E. MILLER.

Copieaof this patent may be obtained-forzfivecents each, by addressingvthe Commissioner ot ratents, Washington, D. 0. 

